Megan and her colleagues launched the Break The Stigma campaign this week
To raise awareness around mental health issues
And the stigmas attached to them
So this post is about how I break the stigma
I guess I am part of a community of bloggers
That blog honestly and openly about how our mental health issues affect us
In my case it is anorexia, bulimia, depression and anxiety and addiction
My goal from the start was to tell the truth about what it's really like to live with these conditions
I think stigmas stem from a lack of education around mental health
And people fear what they don't understand
Depression and suicide are a huge problem in my country
And around the world
Through my blog
I hope that people will get an insight in to what these issues are really about
That there is no need to be afraid
Knowledge is power
I hope that through this campaign
And the hard work of advocates all around the world
We can put an end to the negative stigmas that persist
How do you break the stigma?
Oh, I think this is wonderful
ReplyDeleteOur mental health issues do not define us, the same as our physical ones don't.
My sister has fibromyalgia. She isn't fibromyalgia, it doesn't become an embodiment just because you suffer it, but she has it, it affects her but that doesn't mean that's all she is.
The same with psychological issues.
People are scared of them because they don't understand that it's just like any other illness you have to work through and recover from just because you can't see it or measure it.
I try to break the stigma by talking about what I know to whoever wants to hear it. In conversations with my friends I'm the foremost expert in these things and if you talk respectfully and logically people will listen.
I've even heard my friends talk about this stuff with other people, taking from what they have learned from listening to me, and living with me, especially in subjects like anxiety and depression.
There are so many people who dismiss anxiety and depression as attention seeking and unimportant and I just hope I make a little bit of a difference when I talk about these things with others.
Also, as a future teacher I am going to be so aware of teaching awareness and tolerance and acceptance and that these things are common and very normal. Starting from the ground up <3
Take care my dear, I'm very proud of you ^^
Love you to bits <3 You are a wonderful person
*hugs*
Mandy xx
I whole heartedly agree Mandy
DeleteOur illness do not define us
We are so much more than that
We are daughters
Sisters
Friends
Aunties
Readers
Writers
Dog lovers
Runners
Swimmers
Dancers
We are not just out illness
I love that you help your friends understand
You are most definitely breaking the stigma
And I think you will make a wonderful teacher
You have so much heart
And that is a special quality
Love to you sweetheart x
This is so important. There are too many people suffering in silence because of the way other people view their illnesses. The "just snap out of it" mentality needs to end.
ReplyDelete<3
I know right?
DeleteIt's such a patronising thing to say to someone to pull themselves together
You wouldn't say that to someone with a broken leg or arm
So why say it to someone who is depressed or eating disordered
I hope through this campaign and others like it
That we can educate people
And arm them with knowledge x
how is A angharred and lily what happens to them,do they keep in touch?? x
ReplyDeleteAngharad is just out of hospital
DeleteAnd has posted recently
Lilly, I don't know how she is
She does not want to be in touch with any more
I'm not sure why